Pandora and the Flying Dutchman (1951)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Albert Lewin

Writer:

Albert E. Lewin (writer)

Release Date:

15 October 1951 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Romance

Tagline:

The Woman of the year in the picture of the year ! [Australia Theatrical]

Plot:

Albert Lewin's interpretation of the legend of the Flying Dutchman. In a little spanish seaport named Esperanza...

Plot Keywords:

Flying Dutchman | Pandora | Yacht | Beautiful Woman | Esperanza

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

James Mason	...	Hendrik van der Zee
Ava Gardner	...	Pandora Reynolds
Nigel Patrick	...	Stephen Cameron
Sheila Sim	...	Janet
Harold Warrender	...	Geoffrey Fielding
Mario Cabré	...	Juan Montalvo
Marius Goring	...	Reggie Demarest
John Laurie	...	Angus
Pamela Mason	...	Jenny (as Pamela Kellino)
Patricia Raine	...	Peggy
Margarita D'Alvarez	...	Senora Montalvo
La Pillina	...	Spanish dancer
Abraham Sofaer	...	Judge
Francisco Igual	...	Vicente
Guillermo Beltrán	...	Barman
Lilli Molnar	...	Geoffrey's housekeeper (as Lila Molnar)
Phoebe Hodgson	...	Dressmaker
Gabriel Carmona	...	Member of Montalvo's cuadrilla
Antonio Martín	...	Member of Montalvo's cuadrilla
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Lolita Allergria	...	Singer, Zanba number (uncredited)
John Carew	...	Priest (uncredited)
Helen Cleverley	...	(uncredited)
Pepe de la Isla	...	Guitarist, Zambra number (uncredited)
Christiana Forbes	...	Nurse (uncredited)
Eddie Leslie	...	Doctor (uncredited)
Ricardo Valle	...	(uncredited)
Gerald Welsh	...	(uncredited)

Directed by
Albert Lewin

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Albert E. Lewin		writer

Produced by
Joe Kaufmann	....	producer
Albert Lewin	....	producer
John Woolf	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Alan Rawsthorne

Cinematography by
Jack Cardiff

Film Editing by
Ralph Kemplen
Clive Donner		(uncredited)

Production Design by
John Bryan

Costume Design by
Beatrice Dawson

Art Department
John Hawkesworth	....	set dresser
T. Hopewell Ash	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Alan Allen	....	sound recordist
Harry Miller	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
W. Percy Day	....	special effects

Camera and Electrical Department
Man Ray	....	still photographer
Edward Scaife	....	photographer: second unit

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Julia Squire	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Joan Bridge	....	color consultant: Technicolor

Music Department
Hubert Clifford	....	musical director

Other crew
Gordon Griffith	....	assistant to producers
Angela Allen	....	continuity (uncredited)
Catherine O'Brien	....	unit publicist (uncredited)
Jeanie Sims	....	assistant: Albert Lewin (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dorkay Productions
• Romulus Films

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1951) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Kino Video (????) (USA) (VHS)

Also Known As:

Pandora (France) [fr]
Pandora (Austria) [de]
Pandora (Italy) [it]
Pandora ja lentävä hollantilainen (Finland) [fi]
Pandora och den flyggade holländaren (Sweden) [sv]
Pandora og den flyvende hollænder (Denmark) [da]
Pandora und der fliegende Holländer (West Germany) [de]
Pandora y el holandés errante (Spain) [es]

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Barcelona, Cataluña, Spain

Company:

Dorkay Productions

Trivia:

Man Ray also painted the paintings and designed the chess set.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The picture that Hendrik carries of his late wife is a photograph. Photography had not yet been invented in the 17th century, when his wife was last alive.

Quotes:

Hendrik: [after saying there is no such thing as a faithful woman] If this be folly, and upon me proved, then let the Divinity which I reject, make what sport He will of my immortal soul!

Movie Connections:

References The Ancient Mariner (1925)

Soundtrack:

Sailor's Song

Aspirational exploration of the best of what people can be.

Ave Gardener and James Mason are perfectly cast for this epic unfolding and exploration of pure love. The love which is realised contrasts with and exceeds the self centred manifestations demonstrated by the other characters (who are colourful and vivid) and in its nobility and apparent brevity proves that context is what lends meaning to life. The final scenes are wonderfully free from restraining causes and effects with a judgement of love from....?* validating us all. The colours of the production is as intense as the mythic setting for the story and helps the suspension of disbelief. The setting is not of the same importance to the story as Shangri-la to the plot of 'Beyond the Blue Horizon' which explores similar issues of a man exploring a context to give meaning to what he is or could be. These are both aspects of the question we all eventually ask ourselves. * Insert your own conceptualisation of the divine here.